Snow disposer



Sep 2 1962 J. w. WILLIAMSON SNOW DISPOSER Filed Jan. 12, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 {NI/ENTOR. James W. wllhamson Sept. 25, 1962 J. w. WILLIAMSON 3,055,127

snow DISPOSER Filed Jan. 12, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.3.

INVENTOR. James W. Williamson Y B F 'J/mm/ p 2 1962 J. w. WILLIAMSON 3,055,127

snow DISPOSER Filed Jan. 12, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.7.

INVENTOR. James W. Williamson lW/J/M finned A 3,055,127 Patented Sept. 25, 1962 ice 3,055,127 SNUW DESPOER James W. Williamson, R0. Box 93, Tahoe City, Calif. Filed Jan. 12, 196i Ser. No. 2,799 12 Claims. ('CI. 3743) This invention relates to devices for snow removal and the removal of pulverant materials such as sawdust, manure, and the like. More particularly this invention relates to a device for moving snow or other pulverant material from the path of the wheeled disposer unit which may be in the form of an attachment for motor driven vehicles "or which may be self powered. This application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application, Serial No. 776,850, filed November 28, 1958, now abandoned, for Snow Disposer Attachment.

A broad object of this invention is to provide a device for transferring pulverant materials from a location to one remote therefrom. The invention has particular application to snow removal; as a result, the invention is hereinafter described with particular reference to such use. However, it should be kept in mind that its use is not so limited.

It is a special object of this invention to provide a device for removing snow in varying depths and which is capable of removing snow more rapidly and with less danger of damage to the snow-removing machinery than heretofore.

A particular object of this invention is to provide an attachment for motor-driven vehicles which is sturdy of construction and which is not subject to damage by contact or impact with rocks, ice and like objects which in the past have caused injury to similar snow disposers.

A further and specific object of the present invention is to provide a rotating auger shaft carrying blades which are comparatively shallow in depth and which are carried by an auger shaft which has a relatively larger diameter than heretofore thus enabling a greater peripheral speed of rotation for the auger blades with less chance of jamming at the point of discharge of the pulverant material and with less chance of blade breakage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mounting means for the rotating auger blade which enables the blade to be used without harm or damage to the blades and over a greater variation in vertical depth than have heretofore been experienced in similar snow removers and the like.

A further and specific object is to provide a flexible mounting mechanism for the rotatable auger blade which is sturdy of construction and which enables operation in unusually rough terrain and in snow of a depth exceeding twice the vertical height of the auger shaft and blade.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon referring to the accompanying specification and drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the snow remover attachment as applied to a motor vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the snow remover attachment as applied to a motor vehicle and showing the power take-off therefrom.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the snow remover showing the detail of the auger blade and auger shaft and showing the motor vehicle in dotted lines.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the spout or chimney for the snow remover.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of the auger shaft and blade in the position of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 77 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIG. 1 which shows a snow engaging auger generally indicated at 2 comprising a rotatable auger shaft 3 mounted for attachment by a pivoted frame mechanism generally indicated at 4 to a motor vehicle 5 at the forward end thereof. The auger shaft 3 is formed of a hollow metal cylindrical member formed of comparatively heavy gauge steel and carrying the blade which comprises a plurality of blades comparatively shallow in depth as related to the relatively large diameter of the shaft.

The ends of the shaft 3 are closed as at 7 and 8. Two main or prime blades 11 and 12 are arranged in a helical pattern longitudinally of the shaft and convey the snow from the ends of the auger shaft toward the center thereof upon rotation in the direction of the path of travel of the power vehicle. Each main or prime blade 11 and 12 is rigidly attached to a fan blade 13 and 14 disposed opposed from one another and arranged parallel to one another and the axis of rotation of the auger shaft. Attached to each fan blade and connecting opposite ends thereof are helical segmental blades 15 and 16 which cover 180 of the auger shaft. Blades 15 and 16 overlap the fan blades 13 and 14 to prevent the sudden impact of rock and large pieces of ice from being shunted against the fan blades which would otherwise normally tend to destroy or damage the fan blades. The terminal ends 11* and 12 of blades 11 and 12 adjacent the ends of shaft 3 are formed as cam shapes and lie parallel to the said shaft ends. The cam ends 121 and 12 prevent damage and injury to the blades occasioned by sudden contact of the blade end against a rock or the like at the high speed of rotation developed by the auger.

In operation the auger shaft and associated blades rotate in the same direction as the path of travel of the vehicle to which the device is attached and the main blades 11 and 12 convey the ice and snow inward-1y toward the medial portion of the shaft and there the snow and ice are picked up by the overlapping or segmental blades 15 and 16 and then the snow and ice are discharged by action of the fan blades in an upward direction into the discharge chute indicated generally at 2.1. Since the auger 2 grinds or chews up the snow rather than acting as a scraper, the blades 11 and 12 are at the lowest part of the snow removal attachment during use.

If the auger shaft is said to be 18 inches in diameter and the blades are 3 inches in depth and the auger is rotated at about 800 revolutions per minute, a peripheral speed of about 4,860 feet per minute is produced and the consesquent discharge of snow and ice is very rapid and eifective. The overlapping or segmental blades 15 and 16 prevent damage to the fan blades by reason of impact of rock and ice inasmuch as the larger pieces of ice or rock are shunted out of the path of the fan blades until they are worn down and chafed to an appropriate size for discharge to the chute. This action also avoids the clogging of snow and other materials at or near the point of discharge into the chute. The high velocity of the auger blades made possible through the increased diameter of the auger shaft and the consequent reduction in depth of the blades prevents snow clogging where previously it was a major problem. Additionally, cutting down the depth of the blades to between about one-sixth to about one-tenth the diameter of the shaft, insures against destruction by distortion and breakage of the metal which forms the blades. Preferably, the depth of the blades 11, 12, 1?), 14, 15' and 16 should approximate about one-eighth the diameter of the auger shaft.

Disposed over the shaft and auger blade is a housing or box 23 which covers the back half of the auger. The housing 23 is maintained quite close to the peripheral arc traced by the edges of the blades 11 and 12 of the auger 2 and only a quarter to half an inch above the lowermost point of the blades arc (see FIG. 1). This arrangement prevents the lowermost edge of the housing 23 from contacting the snow and ice directly and acting as a scraper; instead, the auger blades 11 and 12 ride on the snow to effect the more efiicient grinding action.

The housing 23 is apertured midway between the ends of the auger shaft and provided with an upwardly directed chimney or outlet portion 24 into which the snow and ice are propelled by the fan blades 13 and 14. The portion 24 is flared outwardly to form a horizontal flange member 25 upon which is mounted for rotatable and adjustable movement a chute generally indicated at 21. The chute 21 is formed with an open side 26 while the opposite side is formed of two fiat plates 27 and 28 oriented with respect to the flange member 25 and each other to cause the snow thrown into the chute 21 by the action of the fan blades 13 and 14 to ricochet against points intermediate their ends. This increases the ejection velocity of the snow or other pulverant material since it limits the friction contact points between the material and the side of the chute. In one chute configuration which has been found to operate efficiently, the angle 29 between plate 27 and the flange 25 is approximately 68 and the angle between a vertical axis and plate 28 is approximately 137 with the plates joined at a point overlying the right edge (with respect to FIG. 4) of the flange 25. Other combinations are possible provided the change in direction of the discharged material is not too extreme and the plates are oriented to permit the ricochet at points intermediate their ends. If the contact points are too close to the juncture of the plates 27 and 28, the snow may collect there and clog the discharge chute 21. As indicated in FIG. 3, the chute may be rotated so that the direction of snow disposal may be selected by the user of the apparatus.

Carried by opposite ends of the auger shaft and housing are bars 31 upon which the auger is journaled for rotation as at 32. A sprocket 30 is carried by one end of the auger shaft in order to drive the auger shaft through the linkage hereinafter described. t

A drive shaft 33 carrying a sprocket 34 is connected to a chain drive 35 to drive the sprocket 30. The drive shaft 33 is connected operatively to a take-oif 37 carried by the vehicle 5.

The auger mechanism is mounted to the vehicle by a mounting mechanism indicated generally at 4 which comprises two parallel spaced rods 41 mounted pivotally to the arm member 31 and at the opposite ends mounted pivotally to a rigid bracket 42 provided at opposite ends of the forward end of the vehicle that is on opposite sides of the front of the vehicle chassis.

Intermediate opposite ends of the auger shaft are provided a pair of spaced rods 44 mounted pivotally to the housing 23 near the bottom thereof and the rods 44- are pivoted to rigid brackets 45 depending from the bottom section of the vehicle chassis. The pivotally mounted rods or arms 41 and 44 are parallel to one another and enable pivotal, flexible movement of the entire auger shaft and blade in a vertical direction without loosening of the chain connection between the driving shaft and the driven shaft. This construction keeps the auger parallel to the front end of the vehicle and enables the auger to be employed in deep snow and over banks of snow which are twice as high as the diameter of the combined blades and shaft. Thus the ability of the device to be flexibly elevated upon contact with snow in bank form as illustrated in brokenlines in FIG. 1. V

The term vehicle or ground engaging vehicle means any instrumentality provided with a source of power to drive the auger blade and may be pushed manually or 7 driven by an engine. Then too, it is possible to use electric or gasoline engine sources of power which are supported by a frame member but where the only points of contact between the snow remover and the snow arethe auger blades.

While the invention has been described in considerable detail by reference to use, assembly and illustration by example, it is to be understood that various changes in structure, assembly and use may be practiced within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A pulverant material remover comprising an auger member adapted for operative connection to a power driven ground engaging vehicle provided with means to drive said auger rotatively in the direction of travel of the power driven vehicle, said auger member comprising an auger shaft and material engaging blades carried thereby, said blades comprising a pair of fan blades, a pair of main blades each connected at one end to a dilferent one of the fan blades, a pair of segmental blades each connected at opposite ends to the other ends of the fan blades, said main blades arranged longitudinally and spirally of the shaft to convey material toward the middle of said auger, said fan blades disposed on opposite sides of the shaft and substantially parallel to one another and the axis of rotation of said shaft, said segmental blades carried by said shaft on opposite sides thereof in substantially longitudinally overlapping relation to said fan blades, and means to control the direction of discharging material propelled upwardly by said fan blades.

2. A pulverant material remover according to claim 1 and wherein the auger shaft is a cylindrical hollow member of substantially greater diameter than the depth of the blades carried thereby.

3. A pulverant material remover according to claim 1 and wherein the depth of the blades carried by the auger shaft are approximately from one-sixth to one-tenth the diameter of the shaft.

4. A pulverant material remover according to claim 1 and wherein the depth of the blades carried by the auger shaft approximate about one-eighth the diameter of the shaft.

5. A snow remover comprising a cylindrical auger shaft, a pair of main snow engaging blades carried rigidly by said shaft and arranged in. a spiral pattern to convey snow toward the center of said auger, a pair of fan blades carried rigidly by said shaft and each connected at one end to an end of a main blade, said fan blades disposed on opposite sides of said shaft in a common plane, and a pair of segment blades, each one connected to one of the other ends of said fan blades, each extending over about 180 of said shaft and longitudinally overlapping a major portion of said fan blades, and means to move said snow remover in translation and rotate said auger in the direction of translational movement.

6. A snow remover according to claim 5 wherein the depth of the blades is substantially only about one-eighth the diameter of the shaft and means are provided to mount said auger to a power driven ground engaging vehicle, to drive said auger rotatively in the direction of travel of said vehicle and to selectively control the direction of discharging snow propelled upward by said fan blades.

7. A snow remover according to claim 5 wherein the depth of the blades is relatively small compared to the substantially greater diameter of the shaft.

8. A snow remover comprising an elongated cylindrical auger shaft, a pair of main snow engaging blades carried rigidly by said shaft and arranged in a spiral pattern to convey snow toward the center of said auger, a pair of fan blades carried rigidly by said shaft and each connected at one end to an end of a main blade, said fan blades disposed on opposite sides of said shaft in the same plane, a pair of segment blades'connected between the other ends of said fan blades, each extending over about 180 of said shaft, the depth of said blades being approximately one-sixth to one-tenth the diameter of said shaft, a rearwardly disposed housing carried by said auger, said housing having its lowest point slightly above the plane of engagement of said blades with the snow whereby the auger fan blades in rotating act to force the snow into said housing, and means to guide the snow propelled upwardly by said fan blades.

9. A snow remover according to claim 8 and wherein means is provided to mount said auger to a power driven ground engaging vehicle and to drive said auger rotatively in the direction of travel of said vehicle, said means com prising a flexible connection allowing relative vertical movement between said auger and the power driven vehicle during operation of said snow remover and said snow guide means operable to change the direction of upwardly propelled snow by causing it to ricochet off of a plurality of deflection plates.

10. A snow remover comprising an auger member adapted for operative connection to a source of power designed to rotate it in a pre-selected direction, said auger member comprising a shaft having a longitudinal axis and snow engaging blades carried thereby, said blades including main blades disposed convolutionally along the length of the axis to move snow toward the center portion of the shaft, fan blades longitudinally interior of the main blades, and segmental blades located longitudinally interior of said main blades and cooperating with said fan blades and main blades to direct the snow to the fan blades, and means cooperating with said fan blades to directionally discharge snow picked up by the fan blades during rotation of the auger in said pre-selected direction.

11. A snow remover in accordance with claim 10 and including a housing disposed immediately to the rear of the auger member to cooperate with the snow gathering blades, the lower edge of said housing being slightly above the lowermost peripheral point of travel of the blades to assure that the sole contact between the snow remover and the surface of the ground is between the blades and the snow in situ.

12. A snow remover in accordance with claim 10 wherein the snow discharge means includes planar surfaces to deflect the snow through a series of gradual directional changes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,593,523 Wright July 20, 1926 2,200,623 James May 14, 1940 2,372,172 Bevan Mar. 27, 1945 2,565,337 Allan Aug. 21, 1951 2,642,680 Curtis et al June 23, 1953 2,653,701 Heth Sept. 29, 1953 2,768,453 Adams Oct. 30, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 477,161 Canada Sept. 25, 1951 753,346 Great Britain July 25, 1956 

